Recurrent Floods in the Catfish City

Supriyanto, a resident of Pujut Hamlet, Sidomulyo Village, Deket Subdistrict, stated that flooding in his area occurs almost every year since he was a child. The man born in 1974 mentioned that the flooding issue has persisted for nearly five decades.

“This flood happens almost every year. (This year) it’s been nearly four months (and it hasn’t receded), and some areas have been flooded for almost five months—villages where nothing is visible except houses. So daily activities require using boats,” Supriyanto told detikX.

He explained that the flooding has affected five subdistricts traversed by the Bengawan Njero, a tributary of the Bengawan Solo River, since November last year. During the rainy season, when the Bengawan Solo’s flow increases, water from the southern and western parts of Lamongan typically overflows the Bengawan Njero.

According to Supriyanto, normally, the Bengawan Njero’s flow can be directed into the Bengawan Solo. However, the water often struggles to exit because the Bengawan Solo’s flow is higher, preventing the sluice gates from opening.

“The problem is, the Bengawan Solo has a strong current, and the dam (sluice) can’t be opened (because) the water level is lower than the Bengawan Solo,” he said.

For residents, flooding lasting three to four months has become a routine tradition. However, each year, the floods are higher and take longer to recede. This year, for instance, some areas have been inundated for nearly five months.

“Kalitengah has been flooded for almost five months, with hamlets where no land is visible. So the houses are tall, but you can’t go anywhere without a boat,” he revealed.

Residents, according to him, continuously raise their houses to adapt to the recurrent flooding.

“Every year, houses are elevated. My house, from when I was little, has been raised by almost half its height, yet it still floods, and so do the roads. The roads, if I’m not mistaken, have been raised by about 2.5 metres since I was young. They’ve been patched and raised repeatedly. But the roads are elevated, while solutions for drainage and water management seem, from what I’ve observed, less than optimal,” Supriyanto explained.

Flooding has submerged roads in Kalitengah Subdistrict, Lamongan Regency. As a result, officials distributing the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme have had to use boats.

Flooded Ponds and Rice Fields Affected

The majority of residents in the area depend on milkfish and shrimp ponds, as well as rice farming, for their income. Prolonged flooding causes significant losses because ponds are inundated and seeds cannot be stocked. Many pond farmers have not yet been able to stock seeds due to the still-flooded land in the area often nicknamed the Catfish City or Soto.

“Not yet, some have taken the risk. Many haven’t stocked shrimp or milkfish seeds. The previous rice crops were inundated and rotted, many died. And now it’s flooded up to today,” Supriyanto clarified.

According to him, the gross income potential from ponds can reach around Rp 200 million per hectare under normal conditions. However, the current situation has left many residents without their primary source of income. Consequently, some have switched to factory labour or construction work.

In addition, the flooding increases household costs. Residents must spend extra to elevate their houses. It’s not cheap; the routine costs every few years can reach tens of millions of rupiah.

“For example, two years ago, our house was flooded and raised by nearly 1-2 metres, and then it was flooded again by about 30-40 centimetres. That was just cementing, and it cost around Rp 20 million,” he said.

So far, government assistance has mostly been in the form of logistics aid. For Supriyanto, residents need assistance with longer-term impacts.

“(They provide) instant noodle and rice aid, but people here don’t really need that. What’s the solution? So there’s no flooding, the economy (especially ponds) rotates, roads (are) normal like that,” he emphasised.

Elsewhere, Muhammad, a 27-year-old resident from Soko Village, Glagah Subdistrict, Lamongan Regency, said the water level on the main road once reached about 60 centimetres and entered residents’ homes.

“The worst was about 60 centimetres, sir. That’s the worst (the inundation was on) the main road,” Muhammad told detikX.

The biggest losses, Muhammad explained, are felt by residents dependent on ponds. Normally, flooding starts in January or February, but this year it came earlier around November and December. The flooding coincided with the period for stocking fish seeds in residents’ ponds.

“Residents with pond livelihoods, with ponds, materially, clearly, they are hit hard. There’s been no income at all since December.”

As a result, some residents choose to stock seeds despite the risk of crop failure. Some try to survive by netting fish.

“They still stock seeds. But who knows where the shrimp and fish will go. The capital here is just faith in the Almighty, that’s the mindset of people here,” Muhammad explained.

The government, according to Muhammad, has tried to address the flooding by providing pump machines, but their capacity is deemed insufficient. These pumps are intended to discharge water towards the Bengawan Solo. Unfortunately, the pump capacity is considered not commensurate with the high rainfall intensity.

“Before 2023, (when pumps were added), initially the pumps were very poor, if I may say. Now there’s improvement (to the pumps), but the existing capacity is not comparable to the rainfall intensity,” he said.

According to Muhammad, this year’s flooding is worse than before. The water inundating settlements, roads, and livelihood lands shows no sign of receding for months.

“From what I see, this year it’s worse in the sense that the water is hard to drain out, even with pumping,” he said.

He assessed the government’s efforts.